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Traveling to Helen in May

mk6gti

Newbie
Joined
Apr 19, 2015
Messages
3
Location
PA
Hey everyone, I am a PA resident with no LTCF at the moment, I am traveling to Helen GA for a car show (long 12 hour drive). I just had a quick question with car carry. I have been digging around and found that you MAY open carry in a vehicle or glove box. My concern is that the vehicle is in my mothers name, would I still be legal with carrying? I plan on keeping my firearm cased until I reach VA then open carry down to GA, then just leave my firearm (M&P Shield) in the car. Just wondering if I will be covered the law does not say you have to be in YOUR car as in YOUR name on the insurance and registration. I have a valid PA drivers license and a clean record.

-I am 23 years old.
-Purchased a firearm last week so my background check is good, not a felon.
-I will have a passenger just looking to keep it legal.
 

Fallschirjmäger

Active member
Joined
Aug 4, 2007
Messages
3,823
Location
Cumming, Georgia, USA
More than merely what you asked for, but it's always better to give as complete an answer as possible....

Weapons Carry: You are not allowed to carry a weapon without having a weapons carry license unless you fit one of the exceptions below (this is in general, there are some places off-limits to carry even with a Weapons Carry License):

If you are not prohibited by law from possessing (see the definition under the "Possession" section at the top of this page) a firearm you may carry a weapon on your own property and in your own home, motor vehicle and place of business without needing a valid weapons carry license. (including the property that the business is located on IF the property is owned by the business owner). You do not have to have permission from the business owner in order to be exempt from carrying a concealed weapon without a license at your place of business (however that does NOT mean you cannot be fired for carrying without permission. If you cross any property in transit between your property, car or office then you would be in violation of the law.

If you are not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm you may carry a long gun without needing a valid weapons carry license. However if it is loaded, you must carry the long gun in an open and fully exposed manner (this exemption is odd, a long gun is not defined as a weapon so I am not sure what law you would be breaking if you did carry a loaded long gun concealed).

If you are not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm you may carry a handgun provided it is unloaded and enclosed inside a case (There is nothing that defines exactly what unloaded means, to be on the safe side you should assume it means no loaded magazine inserted into the gun).

If you are not ineligible for a license to carry, you can carry in any private passenger motorized vehicle, provided that the owner (or other legal representative of the property) has not forbid possession of weapons or long guns on the property (the difference between this and the first one is that you can carry in someone else's car provided you could get a GWL and they do not forbid you possessing it in their car).

If you have a valid hunting or fishing license or do not legally have to have one, you can carry a handgun or long gun while you are actively engaged in hunting, fishing or sport shooting with permission from the owner of the land you are on.

If you have a license to carry from a state that honors the Georgia Weapons Carry License, as long as you are not a resident of Georgia and you follow Georgia laws while you are here (a map of states that honor the Georgia license is here).

Violation of this code section is a misdemeanor for the first offense and a felony if a second offense is committed within 5 years of the first. (16-11-125.1, 16-11-126 )
Courtesy of GeorgiaPacking.Org
 
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mk6gti

Newbie
Joined
Apr 19, 2015
Messages
3
Location
PA
I should be fine then, as long as I am not exempt from getting a carry permit. I have a clean background.
 

Johnbo

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 23, 2013
Messages
44
Location
Georgia
I'm sure this has long passed but you will be fine as long as the gun stays inside the car with you. Unless you have a carry permit from Ga or a state that Georgia has reciprocity with, you will be illegal as soon as you step out of your vehicle with a handgun. Ga's permit allows concealed or open carry of a handgun but either way you must have a permit. There is no OC of a handgun w/o a permit in Georgia.
 
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